FIBER DISTRIBUTION ENCLOSURE WITH EXTRACTABLE ORGANIZER

• US 20110164854A1
• Filed: 09/16/2009
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Corning Research & Development Corporation (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Research & Development Corporation (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Desard, Christophe, Thepaut, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US13/061,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20110164854A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4446 Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4477 with means for strain-relieving to interior strengths element

Abstract

An enclosure (100) for distributing optical fibers for communications includes a housing to house at least one optical fiber from a distribution cable and at least one drop fiber and an extractable fiber organizer (130) disposable in the housing. The extractable fiber organizer includes at least one splice tray (151a, b) rotatably coupled to a fiber ramp (140), the fiber ramp being detachably disposed in the housing. A fiber slack storage unit is disposed within the housing, the fiber slack storage unit including a fiber slack storage tray (122) configured to spool fiber slack. The ramp is configured to receive a distribution fiber (106a, b) and a drop fiber (108) from the fiber slack storage unit and guide the optical fibers to the at least one splice tray. The enclosure with the extractable fiber organizer allows the installer or service technician to work on fiber splices in a comfortable position, especially for an enclosure located in a riser closet or underground chamber.

Claims

1. An enclosure for distributing optical fibers for communications, comprising:

a housing to house at least one optical fiber from a distribution cable and at least one drop fiber;

an extractable fiber organizer disposable in the housing, the extractable fiber organizer including at least one splice tray rotatably coupled to a fiber ramp, the fiber ramp being detachably disposed in the housing; and

a fiber slack storage unit disposed within the housing, the fiber slack storage unit including a fiber slack storage tray configured to spool fiber slack, wherein the ramp is configured to receive a distribution fiber and a drop fiber from the fiber slack storage unit and guide the optical fibers to the at least one splice tray.

2. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a fiber anchor configured to secure the distribution fiber and the drop fiber in a bundle, the anchor slidably receivable in a mounting slot formed on an interior wall of the housing.

3. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the fiber ramp includes:

a fiber entrance portion and a fiber exit portion, wherein each portion includes a retaining structure to restrict excessive movement of the entering or exiting fiber;

first and second ramp channels to guide the entering or exiting fibers around a bending region to the at least one splice tray; and

one or more mounting posts configured to releasably engage one or more receiving holes formed in housing.

4. The enclosure of claim 3, wherein the one or more mounting posts are guided towards the one or more receiving holes via one or more mounting slots formed on one or more interior wall surfaces of the housing.

5. The enclosure of claim 3, further comprising support gasket disposed in the retaining structure, the gasket configured to snuggly retain the entering or exiting fiber and to provide radial support.

6. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the at least one splice tray includes a latching mechanism rotatably engageable with the ramp and disposed on an outer portion of the splice tray, wherein the latching mechanism includes a coupling portion and one or more fiber entrance/exit channels that are formed as an extension that extends away from a main splice tray body area, wherein each of the one or more fiber entrance/exit channels extends to a position proximate to a respective fiber guiding channel formed on the fiber circuit platform.

7. The enclosure of claim 6, wherein the one or more fiber entrance/exit channels of the at least one splice tray extend in a slightly curved configuration.

8. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the splice tray includes a splicing area, wherein the splicing area is configured to support at least one of 1×

N fiber optic splitters, 2×

N fiber optic splitters, WDM components, CWDM components, and combinations thereof.

9. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the splice tray includes a splicing area configured to support at least one of a mechanical splice and a fusion splice.

10. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the at least one splice tray comprises a plurality of splice trays disposed in a stacked arrangement disposed within the enclosure.

11. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a first set of ports disposed on opposite walls of the housing configured to mount a fiber distribution cable in an in-line manner.

12. The enclosure of claim 11, wherein the enclosure further comprises an additional port configured to receive a plurality drop fibers.

13. The enclosure of claim 12, wherein the drop fibers are secured to a cable sealing member, the cable sealing member including a resilient grommet having a plurality of lengthwise extending holes that receive and guide the plurality of drop fibers, and further including first and second abutment members that cap the first and second ends of the grommet, wherein each abutment member includes a corresponding plurality of holes to further receive and guide the plurality of drop fibers, wherein one of the abutment members further includes a threaded receptacle configured to receive a locking screw.